How to advocate for yourself

A self-advocate is someone who advocates for themselves. To be a self-advocate, you need to know what your rights are.

You have a right to:

• make your own choices
• be treated fairly
• feel safe and be treated well
• privacy
• use support for things like healthcare and housing
• stand up for yourself if someone is treating you badly.

When you stand up for yourself, try to:

• stay calm
• think before you act
• explain what the problem is
• think about what you want to change
• have information with you that supports what you’re saying.

Learn more about self-advocacy at the People With Disability Australia: Self Advocacy Resources website.

You can also download the Our Site Fact Sheet about Disability Advocacy